As a redshirt freshman, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston is not draft-eligible. Still, the Heisman favorite has had a huge season, and NFL Media reporter Albert Breer writes that NFL scouts have taken notice.
Breer quotes one AFC scouting director as saying Winston (6-foot-4, 227 pounds) is "erratic at times with his arm and inconsistent reading defenses. He'll make bad decisions, and that big receiver, [third-year sophomore Kelvin] Benjamin, bails him out of trouble."
That the scout mentioned Benjamin is noteworthy. Benjamin already is 23 years old and is said to be weighing his options as to whether he should turn pro.
But the same scouting director notes that Winston is "very gifted, [and] he has great size and strength."
Another AFC college scouting director said Winston has the needed physical tools and "looks to be smart and aware as a decision-maker."
Winston also is a talented baseball player and was a key member of the Seminoles' nationally ranked squad last season. While Winston has not yet definitively said whether he will play college baseball in 2014, it's a strong possibility; if he does, it would interfere with FSU's spring football practice. Going forward, his baseball talent definitely will give him contract leverage.
Coming out of Hueytown (Ala.) High, Winston was ranked among the top 50 prep players by two respected baseball services: PerfectGame.org and Baseball America. And though he had made it clear he wanted to play college football and baseball, he was still a 15th-round pick by the Texas Rangers in the 2012 baseball draft.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
